Albert a



Filed Aug. 18, 1958 Tia. E.

April 25, 1961 ALBERT A. KAWACHI 2,981,586

TIME PUNCH RECORDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1' INVENTOR. m 24 A1BE/er A. AZWQCH/ AWTOE/VEVJ April 25, 1961 Filed Aug. 18,. 1958 ALBERTA. KAWACHI TIME PUNCH RECORDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.@5527 r4. Kan/4cm April 25, 1961 ALBERT A. KAWACHI 2,981,586

TIME PUNCH RECORDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 18, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Ticlii- 'H' h z MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNfSD/IY THURS AY FRIDAY IN OUT IN 007'IN OUT IN OUT //V OUT 0 001100000 0000 oooonou' I IIHEIHI 1m IHI l:- a Z2222222222221.

\3 3333 3503 333;? IIIII 7 7777 711777773? I B seas 8068 Mama? q INVENTOR. flz 55x7 A. KAW/Kw/ April 25, 1961 ALBERT A. KAWACHI 2,981,586

TIME PUNCH RECORDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 18, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Ticlll ,NVENTOR. 455?? A A AWACH/ United States Patent TIME PUNCHRECORDING MECHANISM Albert A. Kawachi, 536 W. 112th St., New York, N.Y.'

Filed Aug. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 755,796

12 Claims. (Cl. 34682) ventional time clocks print on an employees timecard in hours and minutes the time that the employee starts and stopswork. The rapid and accurate calculations of totals of elapsed time fromthese conventional time clock records is made difiicult by the fact thatthe elapsed time on these cards must be calculated manually. This is atedious and time-consuming operation and often results in an inaccuratecalculation.

In view of the foregoing, it is the primary purpose of the presentinvention to provide a time punch recording mechanism whichautomatically records on cards the time by means of a plurality ofpunches, the punched card being adapted to be received by a computingmachine for automatically calculating elapsed time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a time pulsecontrolled recording mechanism which automatically selects from aplurality of punches the punch to be selected by its digital value.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a time punchrecording mechanism in which the selected digits on the card to bepunched are controlled by time pulsed selector units. I

Still another object of the present invention is to provide forinterchangeable and adjustable selection of the digits to be punched ona card.

Briefly stated, the objects of the present invention are accomplished byproviding a time punch recording mechanism adapted to selectively punchdesignated digits on a time keeping card. The time keeping card isprovided with a series of columns each of which represents a twenty-fourhour period. Each column includes four identical parallel rows, witheach rowhaving ten equally spaced digits, the spacing and arrangement ofthe digits in each row being identical. In ,each column therefore thereare forty digits. The die punching assembly includes a stationary femaleplaten and a stationary male platen between'which the card is adapted tobe interposed. The female platen has forty indentations at positionscorresponding to the forty digits in each column on the card, While themale block has forty punch elements, each of which when activated beingreceivable in one of the indentations in the female platen. The punchelements are arranged in four parallel rows with ten equally spacedpunch elements in each row. Each of the four rows of punch elements arereciprocably traversed in a stepwise manner by movable jacks. Themovement of these jacks is controlled by time pulses; the

2,981,586 Patented Apr. 25, rear jack in the first row moving one digitfor each pulse. The jack in the second row moves one digit when the jackin the preceding or first row has traversed the ten digits therein. Thejack in each row therefore moves one digit only after the jack in thepreceding row has traversed its entire row of ten digits. When the cardis inserted be tween the female platen and male platen means areprovided for energizing the punch elements engageable with the relatedjack in that row at the instant the cardis inserted.

These and further objects of the present invention will appear from thedescription that follows to be read in conjunction with the accompanyingfigures wherein like components in the several views are identified bythe same reference numerals.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the lines 2-2 of Figure1.

Figure 3 is an enlargement of a portion of Figure 1 partially in sectionand illustrating the manner of selecting the portion of the card to bepunched.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross-section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a cross-section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is similar to Figure 6 and illustrates the part in Figure 6punching a card.

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of some of the components ofthe part illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 9 is a cross-section taken on the line 9--9 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a front elevation of a card punched with the device of thepresent invention, and

Figure 11 is a schematic wiring diagram of the device of the presentinvention.

Referring now to the drawings, the device of the present invention isenclosed by a casing designated in general by the numeral 10. The cardon which the device of the present invention is adapted to record timeby means of a plurality of punches is identified by the numeral 11. Thecard 11 as illustrated in Figure 10 has imprinted thereon ten rows offigures nmbered consecutively from 0 to 9, as well as the days of theweek arranged in columns. Each day of the week is subdivided into twodaily half periods labeled respectively in and on The in and out periodsare further subdivided into four columns for a purpose to be presentlydescribed.

' Each card 11 is therefore divided into a plurality of col:

umns 12, each of which represents a twenty-four hour period. The columns12 are subdivided into four identical parallel rows 13, each of the.rows 13 containing ten equally spaced digits 14, the digits 14 in eachrow 13 being spaced and arranged in an identical manner. The

total number of digits 14 in each column 12 therefor numbering forty.

For purposes of the present invention the card 11 has punched thereonthe time in a decimal system rather than in hours and minutes. Thisenables convenient calculations of elapsed time by' the use ofconventional digital counters. For example, 9 oclock a.m. would bepunched on the card as 0900- and 5 oclock pm. would be punched as 1700.In order to permit cards punched by thedevice of the present inventionto be processed by existing ac counting machines each hour is subdividedinto units. Thus, for example, 9:45 a.m. would be punched as 0975.Referring to Figure 10, the punches in the in column for Mondayindicatethat the card was punched at 9 am. while the out" column for Mondayindicates that the card was punched at 5:18 pm.

The card 11 is inserted in the casing through the opening 15, the end ofthe card 16 being inserted first in the opening =15. Mounted within thecasing 10 are two pairs of rollers 17, one roller of each pair beingmotor driven. The rollers 17 are adapted to feed and guide the card 11through the casing 10. Each pair of rollers 17 are biased intofrictional contact by spring 18. The card 3.1 is discharged from thebottom of the casing 10 through the opening 1'9 and deposited in thereceptacle 2%.

As the card '11 passes through the casing 16 it is punched by themechanism designated in general by the numeral 21. The punch mechanism21 is activated when the portion of the card which it is desired topunch is adjacent this punching mechanism. The manner in which the punchmechanism is activated is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. As the card 11passes through the casing 10 the end 16 of the card 11 contacts lever 22and depresses lever. 22 sufiiciently that it makes contact with thecontact 23. When contact is made between lever 22 and contact 23 thepunching mechanism 21 is energized in a manner to be described. It cantherefore be seen that the positioning of lever 22 and contact 23determines the area of card 1'1 that will be punched. The lever 22 andcontact 23 are spring biased, such that they will bend due to thepressure of the card 11 and thereby not retard the movement of the card11 through the casing 10.

The manner in which the position of lever 22 and contact 23 is varied toadjust the portion of the card 11 that will be punched is illustrated inFigure 4. The lever 22 and contact 23 are attached to pointer 24 whichis pivot ally attached to rocker arm 25. The end of rocker arm 25engages ratchet wheel 26 which is movable along rack 27. The ratchetwheel 26. and the pointer 24 are interconnected by red 28 on whichpositioning arm 29 is pivotally mounted. The end of positioning arm 29adjacent rocker arm 25 has a convex surface 39 such that when the arm 29is pivoted about rod 28 its convex end 30 engages rocker arm 25 andmoves it out of engagement with ratchet wheel 26 as shown in the dottedlines in Figure 4. When rocker arm 25'is disengaged from ratchet wheel26 the arm 29 is movable longitudinally in the channel 31 provided inthe casing 10. During the movement of arm 29 the pointer 24 moves acorrespond ing distance in channel 32. Indicia markings 33 are providedon the casing 11 adjacent the channel 32 to facilitate the positioningof lever 22 and contact 23 at the desired location within the casing 10.The rocker arm 25 is spring biased into engagement with the ratchetwheel 26 by spring 34. The indicia markings 3 3 correspond to the rows13 on the card 11 such that the distance the pointer 24 is moved may berelated to the area of the card 11 to be punched.

The punching mechanism 21 as iliustrated in Figures 6 and 7 includes astationary fem-ale platen 35 and a stationary male platen 36, the card11 passing between these two platens during its travel through thecasing '10. The

female platen 35 has forty depressions 37 formed therein.

These depressions 37 are arranged to correspond and register with theforty digits 14 in each column 12 when a particular column 12 on thecard 11 is adjacent the female platen 35. The stationary male platen 36'has forty chutes 38 formed therein and extending therethrough. The fortychutes 38 in the male platen 36 are spaced in the same manner as andcorrespond with'the forty depressions 37 in the female platen 35. Spacedfrom the stationary male platen 36, but in alignment therewith, isheader 39. The header 3% is movable towards and away from the stationarymale platen 36 in a manner to be presently described. The header 39 hasformed therein and extending therethrough four channels 40. Thesechannels 40 in the header 3.9 are in alignment with the four rows ofchutes 38 in the stationary male platen 36 and extend the length of themale platen. The reduced 4 end 41 of the header 39 is slidably movablein the slot 42 of stationary guide 43. Guide 43 has formed therein andextending therethrough four grooves 44 which are the same length as andin registration with the channels in the header 39.

Each of the grooves 44 in the guide 43 has slidably mounted there-in arod 45 which is movable in its associated groove 44 in a manner to bedescribed. The rods 45 extend through the guide 43 and into a portion ofthe channels 40 in the end 41 of the header 39. The chan nels '40 in theheader 39 have mounted therein stems 46. The stems 46 have attachedthereto or formed integrally therewith shoulders 4'7 which are slidablyreceived in guideways 48 in the header 39. The ends 49 of the stems 46are notched at 5! to receive the ends of the rods 45 extending withinthe end 4 1 of the header 39. It can therefore be seen that as the rods45 move in the grooves 44 of the guide 43 they move the stems 46 in theheader 39, the shoulders 47 being slidably movable in the guideways 48in the header 39. During the movement of the header 39 towards thestationary male platen 36 the connection between the stems 46 and therods 45 is maintained, the depth of the notches 50 being greater thanthe distance traveled by the header 39.

The stems 46 are of such length as to partially extend into the chutes38 in the fixed male platen 36. Each chute 38 in the stationary maleplaten 36 has slidably mounted therein a jack 51. When header 39 isenergized and moved toward the stationary male platen 36 it carries withit the stems 46. The ends of the stems 46- extending within the chutes38 in the stationary male platen 36 contact the ends of the jacks 51 anddrive these jacks into engagement with. the depressions 37 in thestationary female platen 35. The card 11 is punched during the abovedescribed movement of the jacks 51. The jacks 51 are spring biased byspring 52 to return to their original position in the stationary maleplaten 36 after the punching operation.

The operation of the recording apparatus of the present operation willnow be described with reference to Figures 11 and 9, the pulser 53 maybe any of several forms capable of emitting a periodic square pulse.Thus in a given period of time, the pulser would emit a se ries ofregularly spaced electrical pulses, the interval between pulses beingabsent any signal. A typical commercially available pulser has an inputshaft and a series of interval electrical contacts. The number of pulsesproduced is a function of the number of turns of the input shaft. Thus,when the input shaft is turned at a fixed rate, as by a synchronousmotor, spaced pulses are produced. Pulsers of this or other commercialtypes may be employed, so long as a'fixed shaft input gives therequisite number of spaced pulses per minute. The pulser 53 is pulsed100 times each hour by the synchronized motor 54. Each time that thepulser 53 pulses it closes contact 55 and energizes the magnet 56a. Whenmagnet 56a is energized plate 57 is attracted. toward magnet 56 whichmomentarily through linkages 58 moves pawl 59 out of engagement with theteeth 60 on the rod 45a. The rod 45a is spring biased by spring suchthat when the magnet 56 is energized and the pawl 59 moved out ofengagement with the teeth 69, the rod 45a is pulled forward. When'thepawl 59 is pivoted back to its original position it engages the tooth 60adjacent to the one with which it was previously in contact. Each tooth60 corresponds to a digit 14, such that each time the pulser pulses thenext succeeding jack 51 has positioned thereabove its associated stem46.

The above described operation will now be described with reference to aspecific punching operation on the card 11. For purposes of thisexplanation itwill be assumed that the lever 22 and contact 23 have beenso positioned that the punching mechanism 21 will be activatedwhen thein column 12 for Monday is positioned between the female platen 35 andthe male platen nuances 36. With the card in this position, the row 13aon card .11 is in registration with the row of chutes 38a in the maleplaten 36. The row 13a is further in alignment with guideway 48a inheader 39, with groove 44a in guide 43 and with the rod 45:: in groove44a of guide 43. With the rod 45a in its initial or starting position,as illustrated in Figure 9, if the punch mechanism 21 were to beenergized the jack 51 in registration with the digit 0 in row 13a wouldbe punched. The next time that the pulser 53 is pulsed the rod 45a ismoved to its next succeeding position such that if the punch mechanism21 is then energized the jack 51 corresponding to the digit 1 in row 13awould be activated to punch the card 11. The motion of rod 45a istherefore dependent on the pulser 53, the rod 45a after ten pulseshaving traversed the row 13a from digit 0 to 9.

When the pulser 53 has pulsed ten times the rod 45a has traversed therow 13a once and has reached the end of its travel. When this occurs rod45a closes contact 61a which energizes solenoid 62a thereby returningrod 45a to its initial position illustrated in Figure 9. At the sametime that solenoid 62a is energized magnet 56b is energized. The magnet56b performs the same function for rod 4511 as magnet 56:: does for rod45a. The rod 45b is adapted, through similar intermediate mechanism, totraverse the digits 14 in row 13b. It can therefore be seen that eachtime rod 45a completes one traverse of row 13a rod 45b is moved to thenext succeeding digit 14 in row 13b.

The rods 45c and 45d traverse the rows 13c and 13d in a similar manner.The rod 45a completes one traverse of row 13a for every ten pulses, therod 45b completes one traverse of row 13b for every 100 pulses, whilethe rod 450 completes one traverse of row 130 for every 1,000 pulses, oronce every ten hours.

From the above it can be seen that rod 450 moves one digit each hour,while rod 45d moves one digit every ten' hours. When rod 450 hastraversed four digits and is moving to the fifth digit, which would beeither at 4 am. or 2 pm. the rod,45c closes switch 63. The rod 45d isadapted to close contact 61 when it has traversed two digits. If at theinstant that rod 450 is moving from digit 3 to 4 and closing switch 63,the rod 45d happens to be on digit 2, it would be midnight. With thiscondition the solenoids 62c and 62d are energized moving rods 45c and45d back to their start positions. Conversely, if at the instant thatrod 450 is moving from digit 3 to 4, the rod 45d is on digit 1 it wouldbe 2 pm. With this condition thesolenoid 620 is energized androd 45cmoves to digit 4 while, rod 45d remains on digit 1. In this manner eachof the rods 45 is at their initial or start positions at midnight- Asheretofore described, the punch mechanism'z'l is energized when a card11 makes contact between lever 22 and contact 23. When this occurssolenoids 64 are energized momentarily drawing header 39 toward the maleplaten 3,6." In the manner previously described this activates the jacks51 above which the rods 45 are positioned, punching the appropriatedigits 14 on the card 11.

It is to be understood that although the present invention has beendescribed with reference to one specific structure, changes andmodifications may be made to the structure illustrated and describedwithout departing from the scope of the present invention except aslimited by the following claims.

Iclaim: f

l. A timepunch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cardsprovided with a series of parallel columns, each of which represents arespective time period, each columnon said card having -a plurality ofidentical parallelrowswithgeach row having a predetermined numberofdigital'positions therein, said mechanism comprising a bank ofpunchelements corresponding 7 in number 'andarrangement to thedigitalpositions in one column of said card, said bank being divided into rowscorresponding in number and arrangement with the rows in one column onsaid card, and an actuating device for each row of punch elements, apulser, adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spaced electricalmarking pulses, each actuating device being .responsive to time-markingpulses produced by said pulses and positionable with respect to anypunch element in the associated row of punch elements, each of saidactuating devices traversing in a stepwise manner a respective row ofsaid punch elements from a first digit to a last digit in a sequence ofdigit steps controlled by said pulses and thereupon returning to saidfirst digit to allow repeating the sequence of said steps, and meansresponsive to the interposition of said card in said mechanism to causeactuation of those punch elements which are engageable with the relatedactuating devices at the instant of said interposition.

2. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cardsprovided with a series of parallel columns, each of which represents arespective time period, each column on said card being divided into fouridentical parallel rows with each row having a predetermined number ofdigital positions therein, said mechanism comprising a bank of punchelements corresponding in number and arrangement to the digitalpositions in one column of said card, said bank being divided into fourrows with each row corresponding to a respective row in one column onsaid card, and an actuating device for each row of punch elements, apulser, adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spaced electricalmarking pulses, each actuating device being responsive to timemarkingpulses and positionable with respect to any punch element in theassociated row of punch elements, each of said actuating devicestraversing in a stepwise manner a respective'row of said punch elementsfrom a first digit to a last digit in a sequence of digit stepscontrolled by said pulses and thereupon returning to said first digit toallow repeating the sequence of said steps, and means responsive to theinterposition of said card in said mechanism to cause actuation of thosepunch elements which are engageable with the related actuating devicesat the instant of said interposition.

3. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cardsprovided with a series of parallel columns, each of which represents arespective time period, each column on said card being divided into fouridentical parallel rows with each row having a predetermined number ofdigital positions therein, said mechanism comprising a die punchingassembly having a stationary female platen provided with a plurality ofindentations at positions corresponding to the digital positions in onecolumn of said card and a complementary bank of male punch elements,each of which when activated being receivable in oneof said indentationsin said female platen-,;said bank being divided into four rows with each'row corresponding to a respective row in one column on said card, andan actuating device for each row of punch elements, a pulser adapted toproduce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical marking pulses, eachactuating device being responsive to time-marking pulses produced bysaid pulser and positionable with respect to any punch element in therow of associated punch elements, each of said actuating devicestraversing in a stepwise m'anner a respective 'row of said punchelements from a first digit to alast digit in a sequence of digit stepscontrolled by said pulses and thereupon returning to said first digit toallow repeating the sequence of said steps, and means responsive to theinterposition of said card between the male and female o t-said assemblyto cause actuation of those male elements which are engageable with therelated actuating device at the instant of said interposition.

4.A time punch recordingw rnechanism for use with time-keeping cardsprovidedwith a series of parallel columns, each ofwhichv represents arespectivetime period, each column on said card being divided into fouridentical parallel rows with each row having a predetermined number ofdigital positions therein, said mechanism comprising a die punchingassembly having a stationary female platen provided with a plurality ofindentations at positions corresponding to the digital positions in onecolumn of said card and a complementary bank of male punch elements eachof which when acti vated being receivable in one of said indentations insaid female platen, said bank being divided into four rows with each rowcorresponding to a respective row in one column on said card, and anactuating device for each row of punch elements, a pulser adapted toproduce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical marking pulses, eachactuating device being responsive to time-marking pulses produced bysaid pulser and positionable with respect to any punch element in therow of associated punch elements, each of said actuating devicesincluding a movable stem adapted to traverse in a stepwise manner arespective row of said punch elements from a first digit to a last digitin a sequence of digit steps controlled by said pulses and thereupon toreturn to said first digit to allow repeating the sequence of saidsteps, and means responsive to the interposition of said card betweenthe male and female of said assembly to cause actuation of those maleelements which are engageable with the related stems at the instant ofsaid interposition.

5. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cardsprovided with a series of columns each of which represents a respectivetime period, each column on said card being divided into four identicalparallel rows with each row having a predetermined number of digitalpositions therein spaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising adie punching assembly having a stationary female platen provided with aplurality of inden tations at positions corresponding in number andarrangement to the digits in one of the columns on said card and acomplementary bank of male punch elements each of which when activatedbeing receivable in one of said indentations, said bank being dividedinto four rows with each row corresponding to a respective row in onecolumn on said card, and an actuating device for each row of punchelements, a pulser adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spacedelectrical marking pulses, each actuating device being responsive totime marking pulses produced by said pulser and positionable withrespect to any male element in the row of associated male elements, eachof said actuating devices including a movable stein adapted to traversein a stepwise manner a respective row of said maleelements from a firstdigit to a last digit in a s'equenceof digit steps controlled by saidpulses and thereupon to return to said first digit to allow repeatingthe sequence of said steps, and means responsive to the interposition ofsaid card between the male and female of said assembly to causeactuation of those male elements which are engageable with the relatedstems at the instant of said interposition.

6, A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cardsprovided with a series of columns each of which represents a respectivetime period, each column on said card being divided into four identicalparallel rows with each row having a predetermined number of digitalpositions therein spaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising adie punching assembly having a stationary female platen provided with aplurality of indentations at positions corresponding in number andarrangement to the digits in one of the columnson said card and astationary male platen in alignment with and spaced from said femaleplaten, 'said male platen being provided with a bank of chutes extendingthrough said male platen, said chutes being in alignment with andcorresponding in number and arrangement tothe indentamouuted in each ofsaid chutes whereby each of said pnnch elements is. receivable in "oneofsaid intentations tions on said female platen, punch elements slidably Lin-the female platen, when activated, said bank of chutes being dividedinto four rows with each row corresponding to a respective row in onecolumn on said card, and an actuating device for each row of chutes, apulser, adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spaced electricalmarking pulses, each actuating device being responsive to time markingpulses produced by said pulser and positionable with respect to anychute in the row of associated chutes, each of said actuating devicesincluding a movable stem adapted to traverse in a stepwise manner arespective row of said chutes from a first digit to a last digit in asequence of digit steps controlled by said pulses and thereupon toreturn to said first digit to allow repeating the sequence of saidsteps, and means responsive to the interposition of said card betweenthe male and female of said assembly to cause actuation of those punchelements which are engageable with the related stems at the instant ofsaid interposition.

7. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cardsprovided with a series of columns each of which represents a respectivetime period, each column on said card being divided into four identicalparallel rows with each row having a predetermined num' ber of digitalpositions therein spaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising adie punching assembly having a stationary female platen provided with aplurality of indentations corresponding in number and arrangement to thedigits in one of the columns on said card and a stationary male platenin alignment with and spaced from said female platen, said male platenbeing provided with a bank of chutes extending through said male platen,said chutes being in alignment with and corresponding in number andarrangement to the indentations on said female platen, punch elementsslidably mounted in each of said chutes whereby each of said punchelements is receivable in one of said indentations in the female platen,when actuated, said bank of chutes being divided into four rows witheach row corresponding to a respective row in one column on said card,and an actuating device for each row of chutes, a pulser, adapted toproduce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical marking pulses, eachactuating device being responsive to time marking pulses produced bysaid pulser and positionable with respect to any chute in the row ofassociated chutes, each of said actuating devices including a movablestem adapted to traverse in a stepwise manner a respective row ofsaidchutes from a first digit to a last digit in a sequence of digit stepscontrolled by said pulses and thereupon to return to said first digit toallow repeating the sequence of said steps, means for returning eachstem to the first digit in its respective row after each traverse ofsaid row, and means responsive to the interposition of said card betweenthe male and female of said assembly to caus'e'actuation of those punchelements which are engageable with the related stems at the instant ofsaid interposition. v

8. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cardsprovided with a series of columns each of which represents a respectivetime period, each column on said card being divided into four identicalparallel rows with each row having a predetermined number of digitalpositions therein spaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising adie punching assembly having a stationary female platen provided with aplurality of indentations corresponding in number and arrangement to thedigits in one of the columns on said card and a stationary male platenin alignment with and spaced from said female plater'nsaid male platenbeing provided with a bank of chutes extending through said male platen,said chutes being in alignment with and corresponding in number'andarrangement to the indentations on said femal'e'platen, punch elementsslidably mounted in each of said chutes whereby-each of said punchelements is receivable in' one of said indentations'in the female platenwhenfactiuated, said bank "of chutes being divided into four rows witheach row corresponding to a respective row in one column on said card,and an actuating device for each row of chutes, a pulser, adapted toproduce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical marking pulses, eachactuating device being responsive to time marking pulses and produced bysaid pulser and positionable with respect to any chute in the row ofassociated chutes, each of said actuating devices including a movablestern adapted to traverse in a stepwise manner a respective row of saidchutes from a first digit to a last digit in a sequence of digit stepscontrolled by said pulses and thereupon to return to said first digit toallow repeating the seqeunce of said steps, means for returning eachstem to the first digitin its respective row after each traverse of saidrow, means responsive to the traverse of said stems whereby as each stemcompletes a traverse of its associated row the stem in the nextsucceeding row traverses one digit, and means responsive to theinterposition of said card between the male and female of said assemblyto cause actuation of those punch elements which are engageable with therelated stems at the instant of said interposition.

9. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cardsprovided with a series of columns each of which represents a respectivetime period, each column on said card being divided into four identicalparallel rows with each row having a predetermined number of digitalpositions therein spaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising adie punching assembly having a stationary femaleplaten provided with aplurality of indentations corresponding in number and arrangement to thedigits in one of the columns'on said card and a stationary male platenin alignment with and spaced from said female platen, said male platenbeing provided with a bank of chutes extending through said male platen,said chutes being in alignment with and corresponding in number andarrangement to the indentations on said female platen, punch elementsslidably mounted in each of said chutes whereby each of said punchelements is receivable in one of said indentations when activated, saidbank of chutes being divided into four rows with each row correspondingto a respective row in one column on said card, a movable header mountedin alignment with and spaced from said male platen, said header havingextending therethrough four guideways each of which is in alignment withone of the rows of chutes in said male platen, a stem mounted in each ofsaid guideways and movable therein the length of the row of chutes insaid male platen with which said guideways are in alignment, a pulser,adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical markingpulses, the movement of said stems being responsive to time markingpulses produced by said pulser to position said stems with respect tothe chutes in each row, each of said stems being adapted to traverse ina stepwise manner a respective row of said chutes from a first digit toa last digit in a sequence of digit steps controlled by said pulses andthereupon to return to said first digit to allow. repeating the sequenceof said steps, and means responsive to the interposition of said cardbetween the male and female of said assembly to move said header towardsaid male platen whereby those punch elements which are engageable withthe related stems at the instant of said interposition are actuated.

10. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cardsprovided with a series ofcolumns each of which represents a respectivetime period, each column on said card being divided into four identicalparallel rows with each row having a predetermined number of digitalpositions therein spaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising adie punching assembly havinga stationary female platen provided with aplurality of indentations corresponding in number and arrangement to thedigits in one of the columns on said card and a stationarymale platen inalignment with and spaced from said female platen, said maleplaten-being provided with a bank of chutes extending through said maleplaten, said chutes being in alignment with and corresponding in numberand arrangement to the indentations on said female platen, spring-biasedpunch elements slidably mounted in each of said chutes whereby each ofsaid punch elements is receivable in one of said indentations in thefemale platen when activated, said bank of chutes being divided intofour rows each corresponding to a respective row in one column on saidcard, a header mounted in alignment with and spaced from said' maleplaten and selectively movable toward said male platen, said headerhaving extending therethrough four guideways each of which is inalignment with and extending longitudinally the length of one of therows of chutesin said male platen, a stem mounted in each of saidguideways and movable longitudinally the length thereof, each of saidstems engaging one punch element in the row of chutes associated withthe guideway of said jack during movement of said header toward saidmale platen, a pulser, adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spacedelectrical marking pulses, a rod associated with each of said stems andresponsive to time marking pulses produced by said pulser to selectivelyposition said stems within said guideways whereby said stems traverse ina stepwise manner a respective row of said chutes from a first digit toa last digit in a sequence of digit steps controlled by said pulses and'thereupon return to said first digit to allow repeating the sequence ofsaid steps, and means responsive to the interposition of said cardbetween the male and femaleof said assembly to move said header towardsaid male platen whereby those punch elements which are engageable withthe related stems at the instant of said interposition are actuated.

11. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cardsprovided with a series of columns each of which represents a respectivetime period, each column on said card being divided into four identicalparallel rows having a predetermined number of digital positions thereinspaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising a die punchingassembly having a stationary female platen provided with a plurality ofindentations corresponding in number and arrangement to the digits inone of the columns on said card and a stationary male platen inalignment with and spaced from said female platen, said male platenbeing provided with a bank of chutes extending through said male platen,said chutes being in alignment with and corresponding in number andarrangement to the indentations on said female platen, spring-biasedpunch elements slidably mounted in each of said chutes whereby each ofsaid punch elements is receivable in one of said identations in thefemale platen'when activated, said bank of chutes being divided intofour rows with each row corresponding to a respective row in one columnon said card, a header mounted in alignment with and spaced from saidmale platen and selectively movable toward said male platen, said headerhaving extending therethrough four guideways each of which is inalignment with and extending longitudinally the length of one of therows of chutes in said male platen, a stem mounted in each of saidguideways and movable longitudinally the length thereof, each of saidstems engaging one punch element in the row of chutes associated withthe guideway of said stem during movement of said header toward saidmale platen, a pulser, adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spacedelectrical marking pulses, a rod associated with each of said stems andresponsive to time-marking pulses produced by said pulser to selectivelyposition said stems within said guideways whereby said stems traverse ina stepwise manner a respective row of said chutes from a first digit toa last digit in a sequence of digit steps controlled by said pulsesandther'eupon return to said first digit to allow repeating the sequenceof said steps, means for returning each rod and its associated stem tothe first chute in its respective row after each traverse of said row ofchutes, and means responsive to the interposition of said card betweenthe male and female of said assembly to move said header toward saidmale platen whereby those punch elements which are engageable with therelated stems at the instant of said interposition are actuated.

12. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cardsprovided with a series of columns each of which represents a respectivetime period, each column ,on said card being divided into four identicalparallel rows having a predetermined number of digital positions thereinspaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising a die punchingassembly having a stationary female platen provided with a plurality ofindentations corresponding in number and arrangement to the digits inone of the columns on said card and a stationary male platen inalignment with and spaced from said female platen, said male platenbeing provided with a bank of chutes extending through said male platen,said chutes being in alignment with and corresponding in number andarrangement to the indentations on said female platen, spring-biasedpunch elements slidably mounted in each of said chutes whereby each ofsaid punch elements is receivable in one of said indentations in thefemale platen when activated, said bank of chutes being divided intofour rows with each row corresponding to a respective row in one columnon said card, a header mounted in alignment with and spaced from saidmale platen and selectively movable toward said male platen, said headerhaving extending therethrough four guideways each of which is ina1ignment with and extending longitudinally the length of one of therows forming said bank of chutes in said male platen, a stem mounted ineach of said guideways and movable longitudinally the length thereof,each of said stems engaging one punch element in the row of chutesassociated with the guideway of said stems during movement of saidheader toward said male platen, a pulser, adapted to produce a seriesofevenly timespaced electrical marking pulses, a rod associated witheach of said stems and responsive to time marking pulses produced bysaid pulser to selectively position said stems within said guidewayswhereby said stems traverse in a stepwise manner a respective row ofsaid chutes from a first digit to a last digit in a sequence of digitsteps controlled by said pulses and thereupon return to said first digitto allow repeating the sequence of said steps, means for returning eachrod and its associated stem to the first chute in its respective rowafter each traverse of said row of chutes, means responsive to thetraverse of each rod and its associated stem whereby as each stemcompletes a traverse of its associated row of chutes the stern in thenext succeeding row traverses one chute and means responsive to theinterposition of said card between the male and female of said assemblyto move said header toward said male platen whereby those punch elementswhich are engageable with the related stems at the instant of saidinterposition are actuated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,473,554 Hill Nov. 6, 1923 1,881,639 Johnstone Oct. 11, 1932 2,148,500Potts Feb. 28, 1939 2,228,330 Torkelson Jan. 14, 1941 2,392,467 Engel etal. Jan. 8, 1946 2,421,697 Hobby June 3, 1947 2,454,025 Amend et al.Nov. 16, 1948 2,838,361 Findlay et a1. June 10, 1958

